CONCLUSION: Topical indigo naturalis (the Chinese herb Qing Dai)
ointment was a novel, safe, and effective therapy for plaque-type
psoriasis.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of treatment with indigo
naturalis in patients with recalcitrant plaque-type psoriasis. DESIGN:
Randomized, observer-blind, vehicle-controlled, intrapatient comparison
study. SETTING: Ambulatory department of a hospital. PARTICIPANTS:
Forty-two outpatients with chronic plaque psoriasis were enrolled in
the study from May 1, 2004, to April 30, 2005. INTERVENTION: The
patients applied either indigo naturalis ointment or vehicle ointment
topically to each of 2 bilaterally symmetrical psoriatic plaque lesions
for 12 weeks (depending on the date of enrollment in the study). MAIN
OUTCOME MEASURES: The outcomes were assessed using the following
criteria: the sum of erythema, scaling, and induration scores and the
clearing percentage of the target plaque lesion assessed by 2 blinded
observers. RESULTS: Significant reductions in the sum of scaling,
erythema, and induration scores (P < .001) (mean score, 6.3 after
indigo naturalis treatment vs 12.8 in control subjects) and plaque area
percentage (P < .001) (mean percentage, 38.5% after indigo naturalis
treatment vs 90% in controls) were achieved with topical application of
indigo naturalis ointment. Approximately 31 of 42 patients (74%)
experienced clearance or near clearance of their psoriasis in the
indigo ointment-treated lesion. CONCLUSION: Topical indigo naturalis
ointment was a novel, safe, and effective therapy for plaque-type
psoriasis.

PMID: 19015420 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE